Publication of the New Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010 - 2022
Back to List30/07/2010
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Press Release: 30th July 2010.
Issued By: South Dublin County Council on behalf of the Dublin Regional Authority & Mid-
East Regional Authority.
Re: Publication of the New Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010 - 2022
First of new Regional Planning Guidelines published under new Planning Act.
On the 15th June 2010, the elected members of the Dublin Regional Authority and the Mid-East Regional Authority adopted the new Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022. The new planning guidelines, which set out a strategic framework for sustainable planning and growth in the Greater Dublin Area for the next 12 years, are the first to be published under the new Planning and Development [Amendment] Act 2010.
The Regional Planning Guidelines, which give effect to national planning policy, covers the Greater Dublin Area- this includes the Local Authority areas of Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin, Fingal, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. The policies and recommendations of the guidelines, now strengthened under the provisions of the new Planning Act, provide direction to local authorities in relation to policy development and investment priorities. It will have strong implications for local authority planning in terms of population growth, economic, rural and community development, transport, water and waste water infrastructure and environmental management. It also acts as a useful policy tool for other organisations such as transport authorities, waste management organisations, community groups, environmental agencies and the wider business sector at large.
The publication of the new planning guidelines has been welcomed by the Regional Managers, Joe Horan (Dublin Region Manager) and Tom Dowling (Mid-East Region Manager), who thanked the elected members of the Regional Authorities for their hard work and commitment in creating a new planning strategy for the Greater Dublin Area.
Cllr Mary Freehill (Chair of the Dublin Regional Authority) commended the new Regional Planning Guidelines as the fruits of a collaborative effort by many, emphasising:
‘The publication of the new guidelines is the culmination of two comprehensive phases of public consultation, including a series of workshops and presentations, and the expansive research and efforts by the RPG project team. The preparation of this plan encompassed a wide range of stakeholders including governmental departments, elected members, the seven local authorities and the range of ideas and opinions of a spectrum of organisations, businesses and individual members of the public’.
Cllr Freehill also acknowledged the integrated policy model approach to the regional planning guidelines, with strong linkages between the themes of population, economy, transport and environmental compatibilities.
Cllr George Jones (Chair of the Mid-East Regional Authority) welcomed the economic strategy contained in the Guidelines and said “the emphasis placed on ensuring that planning and local government policy work actively to support and develop opportunities for new employment across the GDA, in a planned and strategic manner, sends a positive message for the business environment’. He also highlighted new policy areas in relation to flooding and green infrastructure, which have growing importance in light of current environmental and habitat legislation.
The Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022 are available to view in all 7 local authority offices within the Greater Dublin Area and are available for download on the web (www.rpg.ie). Copies are also available for purchase from the Regional Planning Guidelines Office.
Note to Editors
This is the second time that Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) have been prepared for the Greater Dublin Area and this 2010 to 2022 RPG seeks to build on and extend the policies and strategy of the 2004 to 2016 RPGs, and continuing and focussing on the role as implementers of the National Spatial Strategy. The RPGs are the second tier of policy, implementing the National Spatial Strategy and setting the framework for Local Authority Development Plans. As a strategic document the RPGs set out where future growth over the long term should take place across the GDA; identify the key infrastructure and community investments needed, and the vital heritage and cultural assets that need to be protected in local authority planning policy. This RPG contains the first Regional Flood Risk appraisal.
This time the RPGs for the GDA have been able to make a series of recommendations to Local Authorities clearly linked to and supporting the national investment in transport, particularly public transport, under Transport 21. The RPGs seek to deliver policies integrating landuse, transport, economic growth and investment in utilities- water, broadband and energy so that the GDA can move towards becoming a sustainable high quality location for business, residents and visitors. Through this integrated model it is intended that the collective decisions made at local authority level in relation to planning policy implementing the RPGs will provide value for money on key strategic state investments, not least of which the new and planned public transport routes and major water services projects.
Sustainable growth is a key theme of the 2010 RPGs- in relation to economic growth for the GDA, for the location of new housing land, actively working to improve the environment, water quality, and building real sustainable communities with a range of integrated services. Also new to the GDA RPGs is a model for a Green Infrastructure framework for the GDA to promote a new approach to biodiversity protection.
Delivery of these many aims requires a coordinated approach by local authorities, the new Dublin/National Transport Authority and by a range of other key agencies, not least of which is the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Department of Education & Science, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources and the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.
These RPG’s were prepared in consultation with a significant input by state agency Forfas in the preparation of the Regional Economic Strategy contained in Chapter 3. This close working arrangement has resulted in the RPGs integrating more significantly into the overall policy the key issues in relation to promoting economic activity in the GDA and the joined-up approach to infrastructural and other key areas of investment that is needed to allow the GDA to be a world class destination for investment and to foster local business opportunities.
Contact Details:
Deirdre Scully, Regional Planning Guidelines Officer. Ph. 086 3899 864.
Patricia Potter, Director, Dublin Regional Authority. Ph. 087 2512434.
John Byrne, Director, Mid-East Regional Authority. Ph. 087 258 4723.